Knock-down display device



March 31, 1936. HAlLPARN 2,035,651 I KNOCK DOWN DI SPLAY DEVICE FiledNov. '2, 1935 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

m 11 19 'Alim March 31, 1936. A. HAILPARN KNOCK-DOWN DISPLAY DEVICE 2'Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1935 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 KNOCK-DOWNDISPLAY DEVICE Albert Hailparni'fiew York, N. Y., 'assignor toEinson-Freeman 00., Inc., Long IslandCity, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,941

Claims. (01. 40126) My present invention relates generally todisplayldevices, and has particular-reference to an improvedknock-down'arch display.

'It is a general object of the inventiontoprovide a display devicewhich-is in theform of an arch'upon which suitable advertisingindiciamay be printed or displayed; I -.:?A "more particular object is toprovide a device which is composed entirely of simple struclO turalelements formed fromflat blanks of sheet cardboard or equivalent.material. The elemehts are so constructed that they may be readily'collapsed into substantially flat-condition, or setsupinto prismaticform. When set up, the

parts are adapted to be assembled in .an extremely simple manner, andwith a minimum of'...efiort, into a rigid self-supporting structure.

. The present device may be of any'desired size,

butfonthepurpdse of explaining the general characteristics of thestructure I will state that a satisfactory embodiment; for use on adisplay counter of. a store or in a show window, has:a

painof columnsapproximately three to four feet high, and a1 cross-beamapproximately five feet 2 in 1ength '1' @Thepresentdevice consistsessentially ofonly three main elements, 1 two of which are adapted toserve as upright spacedcolumnsfthe third of which is adapted toserVe asa cross-beam which rests upon the columns. 'Each of th'e elements maybeset upinto the form of'a hollow prism, andthe'term prism is used hereinin a broad sense and is intended toinclude within its sc'ope'theconfigurations 'herein illustratively exemplified, in which the columnsare'each of rectangular cross-section, having squared ends, while thecross-beam is of substantially rectan gular cross-section with arcuateends. Y "I achievethe foregoing objects, and such other objects as ma'y'hereinafter appear "or be pointed o'ut,i in the manner illustrativelyexemplified in theiaccompanyingdrawings, wherein v 7 Figured is aperspective view of a knock-down display device of the presentcharacter, in.set-up n ion; r Y 4 Figure 2 is a cross sectional viewtaken substantially along' .the-.line.2..2 of Figurel';

i' ui'e 3. is a cross-sectional vieWIfltaken' substantially along theline 3-3 of Figure .1; Figure 4 is; an-enlarged fragmentarycrosssectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of'Figure 2;

,Figure 5 is aplan view of-the blank from which the-pross-heammaybeforrned; g

- Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank from which each column may beformed; I

Figure 7 is a plan view of a bracing disc for use with; the cross-beam;and

Figure 8 is a plan viewof .a bracing disc. for use with one of thecolumns. i

The. device consists essentially .of. the two spaced upright columns illand II and thecrosse beam; l2. Each ofthe columns iscomposed of a singleblank of sheet material, such as card.- board orthel like, folded uponitself to form a collapsible tubular structure. Since eachof thegarments is identical with the other, a description of one will sufiice,f V

A substantially rectangular blank, as shown most clearly in Figure 6, isdivided by. fold lines into rectangular sections I3 and-I l, withprovision being made for an. attachmentflap l5 atone edge. When foldedupon itself, the sec,- tions 13 are adapted to'form front and rear wallsof the-resultant column; and the sections .14 are adapted to form sidewalls. The attachment flap l5 is .secured'byadhesive means or otherwiseto the margin adjacent to the edge It, so that a tubular. structureresults, having a substantially rectangular cross-section. Along thebottom rim of the structure tabs H are provided which, when foldedoutward, serve as feetto facilitate the support of thecolumn, asindicated most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. :If desired, tacks may bedriven through these feet into the counter or floor upon which thedevice is. to stand.

Along the upper rim of the column I, provide upstanding ears I8,preferably one for eachwall,

and preferably, though not necessarily, centered with respect to eachwall.

It will be obvious that each of the columns may be collapsed intosubstantiallyflat conditionby simply folding the same along, twodiametrically opposed edges, thereby bringing the walls I3 and I4 intosuperposed relationship. On thev other hand,when the column is to be setup, it is a relatively simple matter to open it up into tubular form.Preferably, though not necessarilyue'ach column is braced in set-upcondition, by inserting thereinto one or more bracing discs such as thatshown in Figure 8 and designated by the reference numeral l9. Thisreferencenumeral is applied to discs of this character in Figures 1-4.

Each of these discs is preferably of relatively rigid cardboard, such ascorrugated board, and it has a medial opening 2i) which serves as aconvenient hand wheel. Each disc conforms. in peripheral contour withthe internal cross-sectionrofthe column, sov that when it is insertedits edge wedges itself against the inner wall of the column and therebyserves to hold the column in proper setup condition.

The cross-beam l2 may be composed of the blank shown most clearly inFigure 5. This blank is an integral piece of cardboard or equivalent,cut and shaped to define adjacent sections 2|, 22, 23, and 24, andprovision is also made for an attachment flap 25. The section 2| isadapted to form the bottom wall of the cross-beam; the section 23 isadapted to form the top wall and is somewhat shorter in length than thebottom wall; and the sections 22 and 23 ultimately form the front andrear walls of the cross-beam.

At the opposite ends of the section 23 I provide flaps 26 whichultimately form openable end flaps for the beam. At the end of each flapI provide a connecting tab 27, and this tab is preferably of T-shape sothat it may be inserted through a slot to lock the flap 26 in desiredposition.

The section 2| is provided with the series of slots 28 near one end, andthe corresponding series of slots 29 near the other end, each setofslots being of such a size and of such a relative arrangement as toaccommodate the upstanding ears I8 of one of the columns. Near the endsof the section 2| I provide the slots 30 which are adapted to receivethe tabs 21. After the blank of Figure 5 has been properly cut andshaped, it is folded upon'itself and the attachment flap 25 is securedby adhesive means or otherwise to the margin of the edge 3|, therebyforming a tubular structure of substantially rectangular cross-section.This structure may obviously be collapsed into substantially flatcondition in the same way as the columns are collapsible. Theclot-and-dash lines 32 represent fold lines which constitute hinges forthe flaps 28', and when the cross-beam is collapsed it is usuallypreferable to fold each flapZt along its corresponding hinge line 32, sothat the flap will overlie the section 23.

The cross-beam is preferably maintained in setup condition with the aidof bracing discs of the character shown at 33 in Figure 7. These discsare similar to the discs l9 are provided with the central openings 34;and are preferably composed of corrugated board or similar rigidmaterial. Each of the discs conforms in peripheral contour to theinternal cross-section of the crossbeam.

When the device is set up, the two tubular columns are first erected andarranged in proper spaced relation. The cross-beam is then applied tothe columns, so that the ears l8 of one column will enter into the slots28, while the ears l8 of the other column will enter into the slots 29.V This act of assembly is greatly facilitated, in the present device, bythe free access which is aiforded by swinging the flaps 26 rearwardlyonto the top wall 23 of the cross-beams This is shown most clearly inFigure 4, in whichthe dot-and-daSh lines 26 represent the flap 26 inrearwardly swung position.

tion to the dot-and-dash line position 26' of Figure 4, and back again,the outer edge swings through an arc which is approximately designatedby the dot-and-dash lines 35 in Figure 4.

It will be observed that when the device is completely set up theopenable end walls or flaps 26 are completely concealed from the frontand rear. This arises from the fact that the front and rear walls 22 and24 of the cross-beam have extensions 36 shown most clearly in Figures 1and 4 which conceal the edges of the flaps 26. The flaps 26 arepreferably of such a size that when they are in closed position they.lie along an are as shown in Figure 4. The end extensions 36 of thefront and rear walls of the cross-beam are preferably of a similarcontour, but, obviously, other shapes may be employed if desired.

When the structure is used, it may be rested or secured upon a storecounter or upon the floor, or it may be placed'in a store window-"orother desired location. With suitable advertising ornamentation on thecolumns and onthe cross-beam, an attractive attention-arresting deviceresults. In many cases, it is preferable to arrangea display of thecommodities that are advertised around the columns land under the arch;or they maybe ornamentally stacked adjacent to each of the columns. Somemay often be rested upon the cross-beam, provided that'the weight is nottoo great.

The, disassembly of the device, after it has been used for thedesired'period of time, is'ju'st assimple as its assembly. The stepshereinbefore described are carried out in reverse order, and the variouselements are adapted to be stacked, shipped, or stored'in substantiallyflat relationship. If desired, all of the elements may be completelydiscarded after the device has been used, because the structure is sosimple and economical in nature'that salvaging of the parts is notessential. In fact, one of" the characterizing features of the presentstructure lies in the utter simplicity thereof, whereby an emtiredisplay device is provided by employing'only three main elements, eachof which is nothing more than a' blank of sheet cardboard properlyshaped and constructed.

It may be noted in passing that the ease with which'the parts areassembled and disassembled is due in large measure to the novelarrangement of end flaps; whereby each flap is hinged to the top wall ofthe cross-beam along a hinge axis 32 which is ofiset'toward the centerof the beam.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details, hereindescribed and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of myinvention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and-scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted asillustrative, and notin a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A knockdowndisplay device comprising a pair of columns and a cross-beam, each ofsaid elements comprising a blank of sheet cardboard shaped into the formof a hollow prism which is collapsible into substantially flatconditionand means for separably interlocking said prismsto form an archin which the columns serve as spaced upright supports for saidcross-beam,

said means comprising upwardly projecting ears on the upper rims of saidcolumns, and slots in the bottom wall of the beam arranged to receivesaid ears, respectively, whereby the beam rests directly upon the upperends of said columns.

2. A knockdown display device, as set forth in claim 1, in which thebeam has end walls in the form of openable flaps to permit access to theinterior of the beam during the engagement of said ears into said slots.

3. A knockdown display device comprising a pair of columns and across-beam, each of said elements comprising a blank of sheet cardboardshaped into the form of a hollow prism which is collapsible intosubstantially flat condition, and means for separably interlocking saidprisms to form an arch in which the columns serve as spaced uprightsupports for said cross-beam, said means comprising upwardly projectingears on the upper rims of said columns, and slots in the bottom wall ofthe beam arranged to receive said ears, respectively, whereby the beamrests directly upon the upper ends of said columns, said beam having endwalls in the form of openable flaps, and the front and rear walls of thebeam having end extensions concealing the edges of said flaps.

4. A knockdown display device, as set forth in claim 1, in which thebeam has end walls in the form of openable flaps, each flap being hingedto the top wall of the beam, and means for separably interengaging thefree end of each flap in the bottom wall of the beam.

5, A knockdown display device, as set forth in claim 1, in which thebeam has end walls in the form of openable flaps, each flap being hingedto the top wall of the beam along a hinge axis offset toward the centerof the beam, and means for separably interengaging the free end of eachflap with the bottom wall of the beam, whereby top access to the columnears is facilitated when the flap is swung upwardly.

ALBERT HAILPARN.

